Disgusting Dogs going into ICUs at a hospital near you

[SummerFeverVenice]

Is anyone else horrified at the thought of “therapy” dogs going on hospitals’ wards and even into ICUs? I read this article and was throughly disgusted at the idea of animals and all their associated filth being allowed into hospitals.

Outpatient, psychiatric wards I have no problem with. But regular wards and the ICU?! Where infection control and hygiene must be upheld…surely this is a bad idea. In the article one of the volunteers even let her dog lick a patient’s face! Plus the top photo shows a dog that has climbed into bed with a patient.

I feel like dog worship has gone a step too far.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz7w4lzyg2lo

I completely agree about the staff and a limited number of visitors.

Hospital wards and waiting room have turned into family days out though.
Children screaming and running around, loud phone calls, eating and drinking. A lovely therapy dogis much better and better behaved than most of them.

When my son first started seeing the therapy dog, he was in intensive care and was hooked up to too many things plus unable to support himself in a wheelchair as he had to learn how to sit up again.

Like pp said, often those who are bed bound will benefit the most.

Yes people have become selfish and inconsiderate. Patients and relatives. I had to ask a parent to turn down their kid’s iPad as my child was trying to sleep on a paeds ward at midnight.

Sometimes I yearn for the days of a strict matron in charge. Like in the Carry On films for the older amongst us ;-) She wouldn’t have allowed screaming kids or dogs on the ward and everything would be as clean as a whistle!

"I suspect that the "handlers" might listen to an adult telling them to take the dog away, but I bet kids get told "oh he's so cute, look just give him a stroke" and told they are stupid for being scared."

You clearly have absolutely NO knowledge of Pets As Therapy dogs or their handlers, @sharpclawedkitten, and have made this ridiculous accusation based on absolutely zero evidence.

It's not a new thing. Many Trusts have made their infection control/prevention measures in relation to visiting animals available online - they're pretty strict.

The Marsden (a specialist cancer hospital) has a pet therapy service - if animals were routinely spreading disease in cancer patients they'd probably have suspended that a long while ago.

For patients who like dogs, the benefits of having pet visits are amazing (including on ICU)- it's not just nice and fluffy - it can help with physio, motivation, and reducing stress levels can be beneficial for immune function.

Am pretty sure humans cause more problems than dogs - we'd turn away a therapy dog that had fleas for example, but you can't turn away a patient with nits or scabies etc and you can't insist that they have treatment for it. Visitors with infective respiratory/GI illnesses still come to see their rellies despite knowing they shouldn't; patients don't tell us they've got diarrhoeal illnesses until it's barn door obvious...the list goes on.

If you don't want to see a therapy pet/be near a guide dog accompanying their owner in outpatients, etc. then just let staff know when you arrive - they're not going to force anyone to have a visit.

I'm immunocompromised with a cat and previously a horse
Never had any issues except for my consultant saying "at least you have your half of the apple before her...please!"

I'm not a dog lover so I wouldn't really want a visit from one myself, however my nan got a visit from one during her hospital stay and it cheered her up so much.

It's not like it's compulsory.

I used to bring my mum's dogs up to visit her when she was in the hospital for a long period of time but only to the front doors. I swear half the ward would come down with her to give the dogs cuddles. Animals mean a lot to a lot of people. Hence why therapy animals even exist. You talk like professionals don't know anything about infection control. These therapy dogs aren't just someone's pets who have walked through dirty streets to get to the hospital. They are properly vetted, trained, and cleaned. No one will be forced to interact with a dog.

I think the benefits outweigh the (minimal) risks.

“Disgusting Dogs” 😂🤣 please post a photo of your sad newspaper face 🙏

There's usually very strict guidelines. There was a pat dog that visited the paed oncology ward when DS was on it 7-8 years ago. He had to have a bath straight before his visit.

He was the absolute highlight in what was otherwise a pretty soul destroying ward

Tell me you know nothing about PAT dogs without saying you know nothing about PAT dogs.
I have been in hospital under section, along with other patients. We were not allowed to leave to visit a dog, or even our own family.
Both handlers and dogs are thoroughly assessed. They will not insist you stroke their dog at all.